Privacy Policy

Last updated: 1 November 2025

This Privacy Policy explains how Joseph Ball Books (“we”, “us”, or “our”) collects, uses, and protects your personal data when you visit our website https://josephballbooks.co.uk (“the Website”).

We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your information in compliance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

1. Who we are

This Website is operated by Joseph Ball Books, located in the United Kingdom.

We act as the data controller for this Website.

If you have any questions about this policy or how we handle your data, please contact us at:
📧 joseball@hotmail.co.uk

2. Information we collect

We collect and process personal data in the following ways:

2.1 Information you provide directly

When you use our contact form, we collect:

• Name

• Email address

• Message content

This data is used only to respond to your enquiry.

Form submissions are:

• Sent to us via email (through SiteGround’s mail system and Gmail), and

• Stored temporarily in our WordPress/Elementor form submission log for backup and record purposes.

2.2 Information collected automatically

When you visit our Website, we may automatically collect:

• Your IP address, browser type, and device information;

• Pages visited, time spent, and referring URLs (via Google Analytics);

• Cookies and similar technologies (see section 6).

2.3 Embedded content

Some pages may include embedded content such as YouTube videos, social media feeds, or other external media.
Embedded content behaves as if you visited the other website directly, and those sites may collect data according to their own privacy policies.

3. How we use your data

We use personal data only for the following purposes:

• To respond to messages sent via our contact form.

• To maintain, monitor, and improve the performance of our Website.

• To protect the Website against security threats or misuse.

• To comply with legal obligations if required by law enforcement or regulators.

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal data.

4. Legal bases for processing

We process personal data under the following lawful bases:

• Consent — when you submit your information through the contact form.

• Legitimate interests — for website security, maintenance, and analytics.

• Legal obligation — where retention of data is necessary for compliance.

You can withdraw consent at any time by emailing joseball@hotmail.co.uk.

5. Data storage and security

• Our Website is hosted securely by SiteGround Hosting Ltd., which operates GDPR-compliant data centres in the UK and EU.

• Emails are transmitted securely using SSL encryption.

• We retain contact form submissions only as long as necessary to handle your enquiry, after which they are deleted.

• Access to data is restricted to individuals who require it for operational purposes (e.g. web administration).

We take appropriate technical and organisational measures to safeguard your data against loss, misuse, or unauthorised access.

6. Cookies and tracking

We use a limited number of cookies on this Website to:

• Ensure the site functions properly;

• Measure anonymous visitor statistics using Google Analytics;

• Support embedded content such as YouTube videos.

These cookies do not personally identify you. You can disable or delete cookies in your browser settings at any time.

For more information about cookies, visit www.allaboutcookies.org.

7. Sharing of information

We share data only with trusted third parties that help us operate this Website. These include:

All third parties process data in accordance with UK GDPR and provide equivalent protection.

Book purchases are handled exclusively through Amazon and other third-party booksellers.
We do not collect or process any personal or payment data relating to those transactions.
Each retailer operates under its own privacy policy.

8. Your rights under UK GDPR

You have the right to:

• Request access to the personal data we hold about you.

• Request correction or deletion of your personal data.

• Withdraw consent for us to contact you.

• Object to or restrict processing in certain circumstances.

• Lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) at www.ico.org.uk.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact joseball@hotmail.co.uk.

9. Data retention

We keep contact form data only for as long as necessary to respond to enquiries.
Analytics and technical data are retained for up to 26 months (the default period in Google Analytics).

10. Links to other websites

Our Website contains links to external websites, including Amazon and other booksellers.
We are not responsible for the content, security, or privacy practices of these sites.
Please review their privacy policies before submitting any personal information.

11. International transfers

Some of our service providers (e.g. Google) process data outside the UK and EEA.
Where this occurs, it is protected under approved legal safeguards such as the UK–US Data Bridge and Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs).

12. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect legal or technical changes.
The latest version will always be available at https://josephballbooks.co.uk/privacy-policy.
We recommend checking this page occasionally to stay informed.

13. Governing law

This Privacy Policy is governed by the laws of England and Wales.
Any disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.